The stop-motion short charts the difficult journey of a precocious Métis baby girl as she contemplates her path to Hell; now available on the National Film Board of Canada’s streaming platform.
Terril Calder’s latest animated short, Meneath: The Hidden Island of Ethics, which premiered at the 2021 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) and was a selection at the 2022 Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale), is now streaming free on the National Film Board of Canada’s streaming platform nfb.ca.
A multi-disciplinary creator born in Fort Frances, Ontario, Calder lives in Toronto. Her Métis lineage is from the Red River Settlement and the Orkney Cree Métis.
The NFB describes the stop-motion animated film as a dive “into the innate contrast between the Seven Deadly Sins (Lust, Gluttony, Greed, Sloth, Wrath, Pride, and Envy) and the Seven Sacred Teachings (Love, Respect, Wisdom, Courage, Truth, Honesty, and Humility), as embodied in the life of a precocious Métis baby.”
In the film, Baby Girl’s inner turmoil is laid bare with unflinching honesty. Convinced she’s soiled and destined for Hell, Baby Girl receives Anishinaabe Teachings from Nokomis that fill her with strength and pride and affirm a path toward healing.
Watch the trailer:
The short is written, directed, and animated by Calder, with Jelena Popović producing. Jason Ryle served as consulting producer, with Michael Fukushima and Rob McLaughlin as executive producers.
Source: National Film Board of Canada
Debbie Diamond Sarto is news editor at Animation World Network.
